Sealed Battery Movable Sealing Member Welding Inspection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sealed batteries face challenges in reliably determining the quality of the welding state around the liquid inlet, as the sealing is provided by both the weld zone and rubber material, making it difficult to assess the hermetically sealing property, and the rubber material is not resistant to water and electrolyte, leading to potential long-term sealing issues.
Innovation Solution
A sealed battery design featuring a sealing member with a movable portion that is freely displaceable between contact and non-contact positions, allowing pressure differences to determine the welding state by sealing the liquid inlet initially and then opening to release gas during charging, ensuring reliable inspection and long-term sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing plug with rubber material is used to seal the liquid inlet, then the hermetically sealing property is maintained during inspection, but it becomes impossible to reliably determine whether the welding state is good and the long-term hermetically sealing property cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing plug is divided into two distinct functional parts: a rubber sealing portion for maintaining hermetic sealing during inspection, and a metal plate portion for providing a reliable welding seal. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function independently, enabling accurate welding quality assessment while maintaining sealing integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal plate portion acts as an intermediary element between the rubber sealing portion and the liquid inlet. It provides a stable welding surface that allows inspection of welding quality without compromising the hermetic sealing function, effectively mediating between the need for reliable sealing and accurate welding assessment.
2Ease of manufacture
If rubber material is used for sealing the liquid inlet, then sealing is provided during assembly, but the rubber material is less resistant to water and electrolyte contact for long term
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing plug combines rubber material and metal plate material into a composite structure. The rubber portion provides initial sealing and flexibility, while the metal plate portion provides durable, corrosion-resistant long-term sealing. This composite material approach leverages the advantages of both materials to overcome their individual limitations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables reliable determination of the welding state and maintains hermetic sealing by using a movable rubber portion that returns to the contact position, preventing foreign matter entry and electrolyte leakage, thus ensuring the quality of the welding state and long-term sealing integrity.
Implementation Method 1
an annular movable portion placed in contact with a surface of the sealing plate on an inside of the battery case and provided freely displaceable between a contact position where the movable portion contacts with an entire circumference of the liquid inlet and a non-contact position
Implementation Method 2
the movable portion is configured to be displaced to the non-contact position when pressure in an inside region on inside of the battery case sealed by the movable portion in the contact position is increased beyond a limit value with respect to pressure in an outside region on an opposite side to the inside region with respect to the movable portion
Implementation Method 3
a metal sealing plate welded to the lid member around the liquid inlet of to cover an outer open end of the liquid inlet to seal the liquid inlet
Data Source
AI summary
A sealed battery includes an electrode body; a battery case housing the electrode body and having an open surface; a lid member closing the case; a liquid inlet formed penetrating through the lid member; and a sealing member. The sealing member has: a metal sealing plate welded to the lid member to cover and seal the liquid inlet; and an annular movable portion displaceable between a contact position contacting the entire circumference of the inlet and a non-contact position not contacting at least a portion of the inlet. The movable portion is displaced to the non-contact position when the pressure of the inside region of the battery case sealed by the movable portion in the contact position is increased beyond a limit value with respect to the pressure of the outside region opposite from the inside region with respect to the movable portion.